Air Composition, Ventilation, and Health Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the composition of air, biological processes involving gases, and workplace ventilation systems and monitoring techniques.

Nitrogen

A gas that makes up $78\%$ of the air; it is not used by most living things except for nitrogen-fixing bacteria and certain plant roots to form nitrates.

Oxygen

A gas making up $21\%$ of the air which is essential for respiration in most living things and is needed for burning.

Respiration

The process where living things take in oxygen to break down digested food and produce energy, summarized as $\text{Oxygen} + \text{Digested Food} \rightarrow \text{Energy} + \text{Carbon dioxide}$.

Carbon dioxide

A gas essential to green plants for photosynthesis and a key indicator of ventilation adequacy, where levels above $1,000\,ppm$ can cause drowsiness.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants combine carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to make food (simple sugars) and produce oxygen.

Water Vapour

A component of air that plays an important part in the water cycle, helps form clouds, and returns to Earth as rain, snow, hale, or sleet.

Rare Gases

A group of inert gases including argon, helium, neon, krypton, and xenon that do not take part in reactions under normal circumstances.

Anemometers

Tools used to measure air velocity, such as hot wire or vane types, to ensure adequate airflow and contaminant removal.

Humidity

The amount of moisture in the air; the ideal range is $40-60\%$ to prevent mold growth and respiratory issues.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Contaminants found in the air that can cause allergies, asthma, and long-term lung diseases.

Natural Ventilation

A ventilation method that utilizes windows, doors, and wind or thermal forces.

Mechanical Ventilation

A system utilizing fans, ducts, and air handling units (AHU) to provide, exhaust, or recirculate air.

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)

A system designed to capture contaminants at the source, such as fume hoods.

General Ventilation

A method that dilutes indoor contaminants by mixing indoor air with fresh outdoor air.

Sick Building Syndrome

A condition caused by poor ventilation resulting in headaches, eye irritation, and fatigue.

Smoke Tubes

Tools used to evaluate airflow direction to ensure pollutants move away from the breathing zone.

Air Changes per Hour (ACH)

A calculation used to measure the rate of air renewal within a space.